by Barbara E. Hill

The ship phasing off the Enterprise’s port bow was more than just hostile—it was downright suicidal. At least, it was from Will Riker’s perspective.

"They are firing again, Commander," Lieutenant Commander Worf snarled, bracing against the weapons console as the alien craft’s fire arced and spiraled its way toward the Enterprise.

"Mr. Data, we’re running out of time," Will warned, dropping into the captain’s chair just as the blast bled across the Enterprise’s shields and rocked the Bridge.

"I am still attempting to contact both the Bynar ship and the attacking vessel, sir," the android second officer stated, fingers flying with inhuman speed across the helm controls, his golden skin high lighted by the flashing light of the red alert.

"Status, Mr. Worf," Will barked, getting to his feet once the Bridge stopped bucking.

"Shields are at eighty percent and holding, sir. Commander," the Klingon growled. "The ship is clearly hostile and refuses to answer hails. Permission to fire?"

"Mr. Worf," Will inhaled sharply and looked harshly at his warrior friend, "I’ll remind you that the Bynar ship has also failed to respond to our hails. Should we fire on them as well?" He didn’t wait for a response; it was a dance he and Worf performed all too regularly. Still, it had been a respectable blast from such a small and apparently outgunned craft.

"Data, what is the status of the Bynar?" Will stepped forward and regarded the carbon-streaked Bynar ship limping across the viewscreen.

"They have sustained extensive damage to their life support and weapons systems. The hull’s integrity is questionable and their shields are down. They cannot sustain another hit."

"How many on board?"

"Sensors indicate there are three entities on board."

"Three?" Will frowned. Bynar worked in pairs, never in odd numbers. "Get a transporter lock on them," he said. "I want to beam them out of there before their systems fail."

"Aye, sir."

Will rubbed his hand over his beard. The Bynar were an odd lot. Despite their computer genius they were childlike in many ways. Their cardinal rule seemed to be it’s easier to ask forgiveness than for permission. It was possible that they would continue to ignore the Enterprise until they had destroyed the alien craft. Clearly, they had been under attack by the alien craft when they sent called for assistance yet they had failed to mention the combat situation. Riker supposed the Bynar considered sharing such information to be an unreasonable risk to introduce into the equation.

But, essentially, the Enterprise had dropped out of warp to find a new race attacking the Bynar. Will hoped like hell that their first contact with a Federation ship wouldn’t be a photon torpedo in their flank.

"Odd," Data observed. "I am attempting to get a lock on the Bynar crew, but I can only secure two of them."

"Do your best, Data," Will said. The sound of the turbolift caught his attention and he turned as Captain Jean-Luc Picard stepped onto the Bridge.

"Status, Number One."

"Sir, you are aware of the urgent request for help we received from the Bynar ship…"

"Yes," Picard said, tugging his jacket into place. He strode down the ramp to the lower Bridge. "I am aware of the transmission and our response. Go on."

"When we came out of warp, an unidentified ship attacked from off our starboard bow. Neither the unidentified craft nor the Bynar ship has responded to our hails. The Bynar ship has sustained heavy damage. We are unsure of the status of the alien ship. We are certain that the Bynar can’t take another direct hit. Our shields are at eighty percent and holding."

"I can’t say this is surprising, given the Bynar propensity for orchestrating events," Picard noted dryly.

Will flashed him a grim smile.

"Captain," Worf snarled, "the alien ship is firing on us again."

"This has gone far enough," Picard said, moving to the command chair. "Mr. Worf, target the ship’s weapons array with fifty percent phaser banks. Let’s get their attention, shall we?"

Will could see the released tension slam the Klingon’s frame into action. "Aye, sir," Worf said, punching a rapid series of codes into the weapons console.

Suddenly, the main viewscreen flared with color as the attacking vessel fired. The display was impressive—and odd. Multiple arcs of energy appeared almost instantaneously around the Enterprise and the Bynar ship, then disappeared with equal speed. The attack simply was, then was not. Will blinked as the Bridge shuddered under the assault… and then staggered as the Bynar ship exploded off their port bow.

"Mr. Worf, return fire," Picard ordered.

A clear line of laser red shot from the Enterprise’s main phaser bank and speared the hull of the tri-barrelled ship flicking in and out of view before them.

"Direct hit, sir," Worf announced.

"Let’s see if that deters them from—"

Picard’s words cut short by the sudden explosion that flashed across the main viewscreen. The alien craft splintered into stellar waste, showering the Enterprise’s shield with pellets of light before it dissipated into the black space of the Tau Sagan system.

Will caught a glimpse of Picard’s rigid face, then looked over his shoulder at Worf. "What the hell just happened?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

"I am not sure," Data responded from his chair, rapidly checking his readout. "We did not strike any vital area of the ship and the phaser bank was programmed at fifty percent, an insufficient amount of energy to destroy the target."

"Well, it did," the captain said, "and there must be a reason."

Will frowned. "Do you think the Bynar had something to do with it?"

"The thought did cross my mind, Number One," he said, taking a deep breath. "I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bynar anticipated our attack and somehow affected the computer systems of that craft enough to cause some sort of overload."

"Data, the Bynar…" Will began, a knot forming in his gut. The android was quick, but whether he could have anticipated the alien’s ability to launch such a simultaneous attack was another matter.

"I transported two of them directly to Sickbay, Commander," he said. "I could not, however, locate the third."

"You were unable to get a lock on it?"

"No, sir. There were only two entities on board at the time I engaged the transporter."

Picard sniffed. "Get down there, Commander, and find out what’s going on. I want to know who attacked us and why the Bynar lured us into doing their dirty work for them. Again."

Will nodded and refrained from answering the captain’s rhetorical question. "Aye, sir. Data, you’re with me."

* * * * *

Doctor Beverly Crusher glanced up briefly as Will and Data stepped into Sickbay, then returned her attention back to the prone pair of Bynar on the table before her.

"How are they?" Will asked quietly, nodding to Nurse Ogawa as he stepped around the triage table.

"Not good, I’m afraid," Beverly shook her head. "We lost the first one within moments after they were beamed in here. And this one," she indicated the Bynar closest to her, "seems virtually unharmed, but is deteriorating rapidly and I can’t figure out why. It’s almost as if it’s systematically shutting down."

"I’ve never encountered a lone Bynar," Will said, studying the small, round face of the Bynar. The lights along its belt pack flashed sporadically and far too infrequently to be healthy. "I wonder if it’s even possible for them to survive without a partner."

"From what I’ve been experiencing, I’d say it’s unlikely."

"There are no records of any Bynar existing off Bynaus in an unpaired state," Data offered from where he stood next to Nurse Ogawa.

"Interesting," Will mused, tilting his head to the left. "Is it possible that they are like Trill symbionts? Unable to survive independently for any length of time?"

Beverly nodded and crossed her arms, medical padd still flipped open in her left hand. "There isn’t a lot of information on how the Bynar integrate with their computer systems or their partners, but what little I’ve seen does correlate to the Trill process." She smiled up at him, and Will felt his mouth tug upward in response. He couldn’t help it. Beverly had the reverence of his heart, and not just for what they had shared when he had served as a Trill ambassador host.

"Can it communicate?" Will asked, turning the conversation back to the issues.

"I can wake it, but I can’t guarantee how long it will remain conscious, or what harm the drug may do to its system."

"Then do it, Beverly. We need answers."

She nodded, removed a hypo from the array of medical equipment on the stand next to her, and pressed it against the thin, pale skin of the Bynar’s neck.

Within seconds the paper-thin eyelids fluttered open and the Bynar fixed blue eyes on Riker’s face. "Our partner…" it said, wincing into the space that followed the words.

"Try to stay calm," Beverly laid her hand on the Bynar’s narrow chest. "You shouldn’t exert yourself. You are very weak."

"Please tell me…" the Bynar began again, then stopped mid-sentence. Will could sense the frustration at its personal void—could relate to it rather well, actually. The period after the Trill ambassador Odan was removed from him had been filled with odd spaces and diminished perspective.

"You are on board the Federation Starship Enterprise," he said, gently. "I’m William Riker, First Officer."

"Zero One…" the Bynar began, then shook its hairless head. "There is not much…"

Will looked toward Beverly as the Bynar stopped mid-sentence again. At this rate, he was only going to get the first half of every sentence. A far cry from an explanation. Beverly shook her head, indication that she had no solutions to offer and that he shouldn’t expect the Bynar’s condition to improve.

"We were on a mission to…" he continued, shuddering at the empty ends of his sentences. Clearly, they were thought-out, but while he most likely heard the entire sentence in his mind, he could only code the initial portion into speech. The rest remained stuck in the buffer of its now-dead Bynar partner.

"We must get…" it shuddered again. The attempts were wearing on the Bynar’s strength.

Will bent closer. "I know it’s difficult for you to communicate without a counterpart," he said. "Can you try single word statements?"

The Bynar blinked several times, then nodded.

"Good. Can you tell me who was attacking your ship?"

"Analogians," it responded.

Will looked over at Data. "Never heard of them," he said.

Data shook his head. "I have no record of such a race."

"Enemy," the Bynar stated. "They have infected…" It lost the sentence and began to tremble with the effort to communicate.

There was a definite sense of urgency, Will decided, but he was at a loss how to better assist the Bynar. And he needed the information.

"The Analogian ship has been destroyed," Data said, stepping closer to the Bynar. "Why did you omit the attack on your craft in your distress call?"

"You might not…"

"…have come," Will finished for him.

The Bynar nodded.

"Classic," Will muttered. "Now what?" he arched a brow at Data. "We’re not getting anywhere at this rate."

"Please."

Will turned back to the Bynar.

It had reached into a fold in the pouch along its flank and held out a diminutive hand. "Take," it said, holding its hand toward him.

"What’s this?" Will asked, reaching for the offering. The Bynar pressed two things into his palm; an irregular, opalescent data chip and a small, obsidian clip similar to a comm badge.

"Activate," the Bynar said, letting its arm fall limply to the table once Will had closed his hand on the two items.

Will looked for a long moment at the Bynar, then glanced down at the computer chip and the device nestled next to it in his hand. The latter felt oddly warm to the touch.

The Bynar closed its eyes.

"Partner," it whispered.

* * * * *

Will slipped the smooth, intricately stenciled Bynar chip into the Sickbay computer console and stared at the black display panel that ran along the length of the main examination room. "Computer, initiate program," he said, running his finger along the irregular edge of the Bynar badge he still held in his hand. Rhomboid and gently swollen in shape, it warmed his hand and he flexed his fingers slightly.

"Program initiated," the computer replied.

Will looked up at the display panel, but saw only a few character strings flash across its surface. What he did note, however, was the sudden increase in temperature that settled in his right palm.

He looked down, expecting to find the Bynar device somehow activated. Instead, he found a slender, well-formed feminine hand resting over his own. Reflexively, his fingers closed around the soft skin and the pulsing black device locked between their palms. He knew that hand. He knew that scent.

"Hello, Will."

Her voice, low and full, sent a shimmer along his nerves and for a moment he could only stare at her smoky brown eyes and full lips. Then the smile took his face and he squeezed her hand tighter.

"Minuet," he said, still unable to fully accept what he saw.

She took the device from his hand and pinned it to the lapel of the black and red civilian jacket she wore.

"I missed you," she said, snaking her arms around his neck. "You never came to say good bye."

"Well, then, let me say hello," he said, bending down to catch her mouth in a kiss. She felt so real, responded so instinctually, his head swam. The Bynar technological ability was galactically renowned. But this? Impossible for it not to be real, and yet, he knew Minuet to be a hologram, a reality created out of the miracle of Bynar programming. But while she kissed him, it seemed irrelevant.

Finally, he released her and she ran the ball of her thumb across his lower lip. It came away rouged with lipstick. "It’s great to see you, Min," he beamed, unable to stop smiling. "Too real," he mused, running the back of his fingers along her cheek. So smooth.

"No, Will," she said, stepping around him and keying a few commands into the Sickbay computer. She looked at the readout, then tapped the black device she’d affixed to her jacket. "Not real enough."

And then it struck him—they weren’t on the holodeck.

"Wait a minute!" He grabbed her arms and pulled her around to face him. "How can you be here?" he asked, glancing around the small room, searching for the man behind the proverbial curtains.

"The Bynar stumbled onto holo-technology the Borg had scavenged from another quadrant," she explained, her eyes dancing with mischief. "With some slight modification, they created this autonomous holo-emitter." Minuet stroked the black surface of the device pinned to her. "I can go anywhere, so long as I am within a half-meter of the enabling device. But come, Will," she said, a slight frown creasing her brow, "I must speak with Zero One. I assume that is the one who gave me to you?" He frowned at the possessive meaning implied in her words, but nodded.

"There isn’t much time. Will you take me?" she asked, her eyes scouring his face. For what, he couldn’t tell, but she must have found it because her mouth twitched into the one-sided smile she’d nailed him with when they first met. God, he’d missed her.

Will indicated the door. "I’ll show you," he said, and led her down the hall, all the while thinking—there is never enough time, particularly with her.

The Bynar still appeared unresponsive when they approached the bed where Nurse Ogawa stood quietly taking readings from the monitors.

"How is it?" Will asked her, nodding at Zero One.

She spared a glance at Minuet, then looked up at Will. Her black hair framed her Oriental features with military precision. "Quite unstable, Commander, but it insisted on speaking with you when you returned."

"Can you wake it?" Minuet asked, stepping up to the medical berth.

Nurse Ogawa gave Will a concerned look.

He nodded. "It’s all right, Alyssa. She’s with the Bynar."

Ogawa nodded and pressed the hypo against the Bynar’s fragile skin.

Minuet touched the bio-coupler embedded in the Bynar’s left temple, then checked the memory buffer clipped to its waist.

"Null," its voice was barely a whisper, but already a light had begun to pulse along its temple device.

"Null?" Will repeated.

Minuet looked up. "My Bynar name," she said, her mouth crooking into a tender smile. "I have worked with the Bynar on a regular basis since your presence generated me." She turned to the Bynar. "I am adapting," she said to it gently, and Will suppressed a stab of—what, jealousy?—as she caressed the tiny face. "Now," she smiled, and took her hand away. "Transmit what has happened since the last download, Zero One."

Instantly the Bynar began to emit a rapid, computerized garble of sound that Will recognized at the Bynar’s primary language. It sounded a bit staggered, but from Minuet’s expression, the information was still fairly intact. Her face drained of color and with each bit of information she became more agitated.

"What’s wrong?" Will asked putting his hand on her shoulder. She was trembling.

"We haven’t much time at all, Will," she said. She sent a rapid string of Binary at Zero One, who suddenly lapsed into silence. "We have to help them."

"Wait a minute," he snapped, pulling her away from the Bynar’s bedside.

Nurse Ogawa ran a quick scan, then administered another hypo. The Bynar’s breathing had become quite labored.

"Have to?" he dropped his voice into low, urgent tones. "I have yet to understand what these people have done to deserve blind assistance. The way I remember it, every time they’ve required our help it’s been achieved with little better than coercive methods." He pinned her with a look. "I have a hard time believing you’re a willing part of this, Minuet."

"They need our help, Will," she said, looking uncomfortable.

"Who needs our help?" Beverly asked as she walked up to the bed.

"The Bynar," Minuet replied. Her eyes never left Will’s face.

"I assure you, we are doing all we can for this one," Dr. Crusher said, giving Minuet an appraising look once she finished reviewing Nurse Ogawa’s scans.

"Beverly, this is Minuet. She is a hologram programmed by the Bynar to assist them and has been activated to function as Zero One’s temporary partner."

"Will your status as partner help stabilize his condition?" she asked, curiosity piqued by the concept of interchangable partners.

"For a while," Minuet said, shaking her head. "But once paired, a Bynar cannot survive without its counterpart. We can only hope my presence will allow it to continue until we reach our destination."

"And that is?" Will asked, arms crossed.

"Bynaus."

* * * * *

"You must understand my hesitation, Minuet," Captain Picard said from where he stood gazing at the flood of stars that streamed past the view port of his ready room.

"I know it is difficult for you to trust them, Jean-Luc," she said, stepping up beside him. "But they mean no harm to anyone. They simply think in linear terms. Black and white, on and off. There is no grey in their world and risk is simply a calculation, nothing more." She snaked her arm through his and looked up at him. Even from where he sat on the divan, Will found himself responding to her entreaty. "Surely you can see how child-like they are. Please, you must help them."

"What you are suggesting is that I put the Enterprise significantly behind schedule and potentially endanger the ship and her entire crew by delaying critical warp core maintenance," Picard said, meeting her gaze. He was remarkably unaffected by it. "All this for a race of people who have twice now demonstrated a grave lack of concern for the welfare of others and an inability to be trusted."

"Minuet," Will said, getting to his feet. "The Bynar were directly responsible for the destruction of that Analogian space craft and they used our technology and weapons to do it. Why are you so eager to rush to their defense? Is it because they have programmed you to?"

She turned toward him, her face filled with more conflicting human emotion than he’d seen in most of his crew mates. "No, Will. I told you, the Bynar haven’t modified my programming since our first encounter at Starbase 74. They had to make me self-determining in order for me to complete the task they gave me in the jazz club."

"So they could manipulate us in order to commandeer the Enterprise. And they’ve kept you imprisoned—your programming inert in their memory banks—ever since!" he protested, ire rising in his voice despite his best efforts. "They boot you up when they need your services, then download you when they’ve finished. Is that your definition of a self-determined life?"

"Will, please," she walked to the divan he’d been reclining on only moments before and stared at the portrait of the Enterprise that hung above it. "This is to save their homeworld."

"Save Bynaus?" the captain asked, keying in on her words. "You said nothing of them being in danger. Explain."

She turned and faced them, and Will couldn’t help but marvel at her depth, her vibrancy.

"The Analogians are their most hated enemy," she said, capturing Will’s gaze, her eyes pleading with him. "They infected the computer on the Bynaus homeworld with a fatal virus. Because the Analogians are so diametrically different in their logic, the Bynar are incapable of eradicating it. My team was sent out to find a cure, if you will, from an analog-analogous race and bring it back to Bynaus before the main computer databanks are irretrievably corrupted. Will," she said, touching the enabling device that clung tenaciously to the modest silk jumpsuit she now wore, "there will be no downloading of their files back into their computer this time. If we don’t get this information to Bynaus the damage will be final and within a matter of weeks the Bynar will be inert."

"And the Analogians?" he challenged, crossing his arms across his chest. "I suppose they are going to just let the Enterprise enter contested space now that we have destroyed one of their ships?"

"No," she said quietly, "they will take exception. I can help somewhat in that regard, help configure your weapons so that they are better suited to the Analogian’s programming and defense systems. I don’t know a lot about them, but it is more than your databanks have." She looked at Picard. "S’il vous plait, Jean-Luc. Vous avez ma promesse."

"Indeed."

"Mais, oui."

"Well, Number One," the captain said as he moved around the edge of his desk. "It would seem that Minuet has us once again. We cannot refuse to deliver a viral antidote so critical to Bynaus. The Bynar may be unwittingly unscrupulous in their approach to the Federation, but they are our allies." He tapped his comm badge. "Mr. Data, lay in a course for the Beta Magellan system, warp eight."

"Aye, sir," the android replied.

"Will," Picard said, his face carefully crafted into stoicism. While he couldn’t say precisely what private joke the captain was suppressing, Will knew it was directed at him.

"Sir?" he asked cautiously.

"I am holding you responsible for assisting Minuet in her transfer of Analogian intelligence and preparing for our arrival at Bynaus. I don’t want a repeat of our last encounter with the Analogians."

Will arched a brow at the captain as Minuet took his arm and leaned into him.

"Take good care of our guest," Picard said, turning away. But not before Will saw the gleam in his eye.

"Merci beaucoup, mon capitaine," Minuet said.

* * * * *

The door to his quarters chimed softly, forcing its way through the meditative calm of his tai chi routine.

"Damn," Will cursed softly under his breath. He’d been struggling with the presence of Minuet on the ship—and in his life—once more for the better part of the afternoon. Between the repeated calls of the Bridge, a communication from a vacationing friend on Risa, and Data’s dilemma over Spot’s hairballs, he’d had, at best, ten minutes of focused routine during the past off-duty hour. He came out of his crouch and straightened his gi.

"Enter," he said, snatching a towel off the back of the chair near the door.

Minuet stood in the doorway. "Is this a bad time?" she asked, her face radiant in the ambient light from his meditation candles.

"Not at all," he smiled as all frustration bled away. He held out his hand. "Come in."

"I’ve just been to see Zero One," she said as the door closed behind her. She slipped her hand into his and let him fold her into his arms. "I took as much of its stored data as I could, but I’m afraid it won’t be enough."

"Is it critical that it survive until we reach Bynaus?" he asked, trying to focus on the conversation and not the way her neck arched as she looked up at him.

"Not now. At least, not for the mission. I can download the virus-eradication program myself once we are within transmission range of the Bynaus main computer. But it still saddens me to see it expire."

Will cocked his head. "Why? It has kept you slave since your creation." He touched the onyx device clipped to her breast. "You are free to live, now."

"It has been my partner since you left," she explained, searching for the precise words. He found it odd that she considered it a partner when so much of her existence was dictated by the utilitarian behavior of the Bynar in question. "It didn’t ever have to run my programming again. But it did and, because I am self-aware, any interaction lets me grow and learn. For that interaction I am grateful to it. And now," she covered his hand with her own where it still rested against the black enabling device, "I am free."

"Self-determined existence can be very complicated," he said, looking at their joined hands. He smirked. "Is that thing water-proof?"

She smiled and his breath caught in his chest as she pinned him with that look she had. "How long until we reach the Beta Magellan system?" she asked, her voice full of unspoken meaning.

"Several hours, yet," he said, trailing his free fingers through the back of her hair.

"I am not used to unstructured time," she said. "I always shut down once the task is complete."

Will shook his head, unable to stop responding to her and unwilling to continue to try. What man in his right mind would, he wondered, if faced with the perfect partner? And since Minuet had, after all, been designed to be precisely that to William T. Riker, he surrendered and smiled into the serenity she offered. "That will have to stop. And besides, you’re in luck," he said, reaching up and releasing the clasp that held the back of her dress together, "I happen to study the art of spending unstructured time."

"Really?" Her smile was dazzling.

"Yes. It’s called living."

* * * * *

Bynaus loomed grey and shimmering against the backdrop of the Beta Magellan system on the Enterprise’s main viewscreen. An anomalous shroud of energy surrounded the planet, rendering its appearance all the more enigmatic.

Minuet stepped away from the computer console along the Ops bench and shook her head. "The transfer isn’t initiating," she said, wrapping one arm around her waist and propping her other elbow on her wrist. "The Enterprise is well within transmission range, but there is interference of some sort that is insulating Bynaus from any computer communication."

"That would be consistent with our inability to contact the Bynaus homeworld, Commander," Data said from where he sat at the helm. "It appears that the Bynar have erected some form of digital and analog barrier around their planet which prevents the transfer of any signal from outside her boundaries."

Will regarded the image of Bynaus where it hovered on screen. "Given the fact that they were infected with a lethal virus by the Analogians, I can’t say I’m surprised they’ve isolated themselves to prevent any further risk of attack," he said.

"But they have, in effect, consigned themselves to defeat by refusing to acknowledge the assistance we bring," Worf growled from the upper deck. "Surely they expected their expedition to return with some solution to their problem."

Minuet shook her head, a strand of her brown hair catching against the gloss of her lipstick. "No, they expected a small Bynar craft to return, not a Federation starship. Bynar ships emit a unique signature that identifies them and would allow penetration of transmissions."

"Can you duplicate that signal?" Picard asked, rising from the command chair to stand next to Will.

"I’m not programmed with that information, Jean-Luc," she said, hooking the wayward strand of hair with her finger and pulling back into place.

"What about the Bynar in Sickbay?" Will asked. "Can it help?"

"Zero One provided a final data transmission to me an hour ago, there is nothing in its databanks that I do not have access to now. The programming for the signature was not among the bits transferred."

"Suggestions? Mr. Data?" Picard turned to the android.

"The barrier around Bynaus only activates when the Enterprise attempts to penetrate it physically or send communication or data," Data replied. He paused for a moment, then continued. "There is, however, a seventy-five percent likelihood that a small, one-man craft could penetrate the barrier without activating it. Because the barrier is a shell and not a contiguous layer, it should be possible to transmit data to Bynaus once inside the perimeter of the shield."

"A shuttle craft would not have defense or maneuvering capabilities sufficient to protect it from hostile action," Worf said.

Minuet looked at Picard and Will. "Once inside the barrier, I can contact Bynaus. They are not hostile," she said, her eyes pleading. "You must believe me."

"I do believe you, Minuet," Picard said, "but I cannot rule out the possibility that there are other hostile forces present here. Remember that the Bynar are in this predicament because they are at war."

"I am only asking for a shuttle, Jean-Luc," she said, stepping toward him in earnest. "There is no need to risk your crew."

"What about you?" Will challenged. "You would be equally at risk."

"I am a program, Will," she reminded him.

"Because the barrier prevents any transmission from the Enterprise to penetrate Bynar space, it would be impossible for Minuet to be on board the shuttle," Data pointed out. "The transmission of her programming through subspace would never reach her enabling device."

"Then I volunteer to take this mission," Will said, turning to the captain.

"Will, I have to be on that shuttle," Minuet rested her hand his arm. "The Analogian virus mutates continually at irregular intervals. Alterations must be made manually during the transfer of the antidote to enable the program to adjust to the analog nature of the virus. I must go," she insisted.

"Captain," Geordi LaForge, chief engineer, leaned over the railing leading of the upper Bridge. "I could modify the shuttle computer so that Minuet’s chip can be installed and her programming run from there."

"Yes," she said, squeezing Will’s biceps. He took a deep breath as the contact brought all-too recent tactile memory into play. "There is no need to risk anyone on this mission, Will."

"You will be at risk," he countered. "Minuet, you are a sentient, self-determined being. With the enabling device your existence is no longer continually stored in the main computer. Destruction of that shuttle would result in your death as effectively as if you were a biological entity. Don’t tell me that risking you isn’t the same as risking any other member of this crew."

"I have to do this, Will," she put her other hand on his arm.

"Why? Because they programmed you to?" he asked, trying to keep the frustration from his voice.

"Yes," she said, "but not for the reasons you think. Will," she put her hand against his cheek, forcing him to look her full in the face. "I am programmed to evolve, learn, and draw my own conclusions. So yes, I am programmed to help them, but only because I have grown to understand duty and compassion. I learned that from you. Every experience I have, every interaction with another person allows me to grow and redefine myself. And there is no one who augments that experience for me more than you. But it is precisely because of you and who you have helped me to become that I must help the Bynars. Surely you can understand that? You risk your life daily for what you believe in. Would you deny me that part of existence?"

He had no answer. Because she was right.

Picard pulled his jacket down. "I cannot refute that Minuet is, in many ways, as sentient and self-determining as our own Mr. Data. Which forces me to accept that she has the right to make her own choices. I will authorize the shuttlecraft to be reconfigured for her chip if she chooses this. But I want to make this perfectly clear," he looked pointedly at Minuet. "If I think that you are doing this because the Bynar have modified your programming to require your assistance, I will abort the mission."

"Jean-Luc," she smiled. "If you know Will the way I think you do, then you know I am sincere in who I have become and the life I choose now to live. In many ways, I was created to bond with Will in the way a Metamorph does. If anyone understands the implications of that, you do."

Picard took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders.

"So you see, captain," she said, gently, "I freely choose to accept that it is my duty to save the Bynar if I can."

"Captain!" Worf interrupted, "there is a ship approaching our position at warp nine."

"Identity?"

"No transponder signal, no subspace marker, sir, but scanners show it to be identical to the Analogian ship we encountered in the Tau Sagan system."

"Estimated time of arrival?" Will asked.

"Ten minutes, twenty five seconds," Data replied.

Picard turned to Geordi. "Commander La Forge, how long will it take you to modify the shuttle to accommodate Minuet?"

"I’m already on it sir. It should be completed in another minute or two."

Will looked at Minuet. "If you are serious about this, I want to come with you."

"It’s too dangerous, Will," Minuet shook her head. "And you can help me more here than on that shuttlecraft."

"Minuet is right, Number One," Picard said.

"Nine minutes, thirty seconds to the Analogian ship’s arrival," Worf stated.

Will nodded his head.

"Commander Data, accompany Minuet to the shuttle bay and make sure the systems on board will support the transfer of the Analogian viral antidote," Picard ordered.

"Aye, sir," he said, rising from the helm controls.

Picard took Minuet’s hand and kissed it. "Good luck," he said, smiling up at her.

"Merci, mon capitaine," she said. She turned to Will, put the back of her hand against his cheek.

He caught her wrist, pressed his lips to her open palm and caressed her face with his other hand. "My girl," he said, flashing her a smile and squeezing her hand.

She kissed him, briefly, then followed Data to the turbolift without another backward glance.

Will took a deep breath, touched the emotions he was feeling for a moment, then tucked them away for later examination. "Mr. LaForge," he said, planting his feet and grabbing his jacket in the Picard Maneuver. "Analyze the fire patterns of the Analogian ship and modify shields to accommodate them. Mr. Worf, send a hail to the approaching ship."

"Aye, sir," the Klingon responded, activating the communications console.

Picard returned to the command chair and Will took his seat next to him.

"Riker to Sickbay," Will said into the space of the lower Bridge, his face a careful mask of composure.

"Crusher here," Beverly replied.

"What is the status of the Bynar?" he asked.

"Not good, Commander," she said. "Frankly I’m surprised it has continued this long."

"Do what you can to sustain it until the Bynar computer is restored."

"I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything. Crusher out."

"Four minutes to Analogian ship arrival," Worf announced. "They are not responding to our hails."

"Yellow alert," Will ordered. The deck light came on line and a yellow band of light ran around the perimeter of the Bridge. "Keep trying to reach them, Mr. Worf."

"Yes, sir."

"Sir," Commander LaForge said, "the shuttle has left the shuttlebay."

"On screen," Picard said.

To Will’s eye, it looked too small as it shot toward the luminous barrier surrounding Bynaus.

"Picard to shuttlecraft."

"Yes?" Minuet’s voice filled the Bridge.

"Begin transmitting the viral antidote the moment you penetrate Bynar space."

"I will, Jean-Luc," she replied, her tone serious.

Data stepped off the turbolift and took his position at the helm. "I took the liberty of programming the shuttle with a return pattern that should initiate the moment the virus is nullified."

"Very good, Mr. Data," Picard noted.

"One thing I’ve learned is that I am not much of a pilot," Minuet said and Will could hear the smile in her voice.

"Just get back here in one piece," he said, arching a brow at Picard.

"She is entering the Bynar barrier," Geordi said behind them.

Will watched the main viewscreen as Minuet’s shuttle pulsed with a white-green flash as it slipped under the barrier. "How long will it take for her to transmit the antidote?" he asked Data.

The android looked over his shoulder at him. "It is difficult to say," he said, the android equivalent of concern in his manner. "The program is substantial and will require several minutes for initial transfer. But the virus mutates sporadically, so a definitive time-calculation is impossible. The range of possible values required is—"

"Sir," Worf interrupted, "sensors indicate—" he never finished the sentence. The Enterprise’s shields flared and the ship rocked under the impact of sudden attack. On the screen, two Analogian war craft simply appeared, their weapons array glowing as they fired upon the Enterprise and the shuttle hovering just below the Bynar barrier. Sparks flew in impressive display along the barrier where the Analogian energy beam met with antithetical technology.

Picard pushed himself out of the command chair the instant the Bridge stabilized. "Status!" he demanded.

"Shields at ninety percent and holding," Worf said, punching the keys of the weapons console. "I am unable to penetrate the Bynar barrier to determine the status of the shuttle."

"Lets hope the barrier took some of the sting out of that analog blast," Will muttered.

"Mr. Worf, open a channel to the Analogian ships," Picard said, pulling his jacket down.

"Channel open, sir."

Captain Picard faced the viewscreen. "This is Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise. Stand down. We mean you no harm but will defend our ships if you fire again." He paused.

"No response, captain," Worf said, glancing down at the display panel.

"If you do not respond, we will take that as evidence of hostile action."

"They are firing again, sir!"

"Target their weapons systems only, Mr. Worf," Picard said, "On my mark, point seven five bursts."

The Bridge shuddered violently as both Analogian ships flared with multiple attacks on the Enterprise and Minuet’s shuttle. Will blinked against the onslaught of images against his retinas. The Analogians were like nothing he’d ever encountered in battle. There was only one visible point from which each ship’s weapons fired, but somehow the blast reached all targets at once. The Analogians didn’t appear to employ a firing process. It was as if they identified the result they wanted, made it happen, then stopped and reassessed the situation.

Picard pointed to the screen. "Return fire," he commanded.

The Enterprise’s main phasers burst against the closest Analogian hull, sending sheets of interference planing up from their shields as their modified digital/analog configuration penetrated their defenses. An instant later a second blast left the phaser banks and drilled into the middle barrel of the other Analogian craft.

"Direct hit, sir," Worf announced.

"Sir," Data said, "the integrity of the Bynar shield is modulating."

Will turned to Picard. "That may mean that Minuet’s programming has gotten through."

"Let’s hope so, Number One. Status of the Analogian ships, Mr. Worf."

"There appears to be moderate damage to both craft, sir, but it is impossible to determine the effect it will have on their ability to fire at full power."

"Sir," Data interrupted, "a window has opened in the Bynar barrier. It would appear that Minuet was successful in destroying the Analog virus."

"Get that shuttle out of there! Mr. Worf," Will said, pushing himself to his feet. "Target a communication channel through that opening."

"Channel open, sir."

"Riker to shuttle," Will said, moving closer to the viewscreen.

Static filled the Bridge.

"Why isn’t the shuttle returning to the Enterprise?" Will demanded.

A sudden, white spear of light shot from the planet surface and through the opening in the Bynar barrier to spear an Analogian craft directly in the tri-barrelled ship’s center-most hull.

"Sir, the Bynars are attacking the Analogian craft."

"It’s about time," Picard said.

"Commander, the sensors indicate the shuttle’s impulse drives are damaged and not responding to programming," Data said.

"Where is Minuet?" Will asked.

"I am detecting fluctuations on board the shuttle craft that indicate her chip has been damaged. The computer appears to be downloading data, but the Analogian attack has impaired the ship’s database. I am attempting to transfer the information to the Enterprise and transport her chip back on board."

"Get her out of there, Data!" Will said, standing helpless as he watched the remaining Analogian ship fire on Bynaus and the stranded shuttlecraft. Return fire lanced from the planet and, in a cacophony of color and sound, the Analogian craft and Minuet’s shuttle exploded into oblivion.

* * * * *

In the darkness of his quarters, Will Riker stood facing the glittering expanse of the Beta Magellan system as the Enterprise slipped away from the Bynar homeworld. He ran his hand over his beard and closed his eyes as he smelled the perfume left upon his palm where he’d caressed Minuet’s face. They had recovered her chip, but it was damaged and neither Data nor Geordi had been successful in reactivating it again. And the moment the Analogian craft had been destroyed the Bynar had closed their barrier and issued an edict of self-imposed exile until they could analyze their exposure to threat and take appropriate protective measures. Estimated duration: five years. Zero One had expired before the first blast of the attacking Analogians.

Will pressed his hand against the silk of his pajamas and felt the delicate links of the gold chain that hung beneath the fabric. He pulled it free and raised the object suspended from it to the light of the stars. Opalescent stenciling refracted the warm glow of stellar light. For a moment, he thought he saw a flash of activity along the smooth surface of the damaged computer chip pressed into the secure band of the pendant he now wore. Despite it all, he knew her to be winking at him.

Unable to resist, he kissed her acrylic face and settled back to wait.

-- The End --